IR TV Review: IT - WELCOME TO DERRY -EPISODE 3 (“Now You See It”) [HBO]
The texture of an episode definitely comes in the eye of the beholder. Episode 3 of "Welcome To Derry" is the first not directed by Andy Muschietti. While it still pushes the story in certain ways, but it is not as slicing as the first two. The nightmare sequences in those were wonderfully vivid and yet still motivated by character. "Now You See It" works on two levels. One involves Dick Halloran and it is much clearer how they (the military) see his gifts. Hanlon, the black Major has a sense that something is adjusted on a grand scale but he can't put his finger on it. A "seeing" sequence in a plane he flies brings to bear what Halloran sees but the connection between him and the demon is fleeting right now...but it scares him. And Dick wasn't scared of The Overlook for the most part (as a comparison). Halloran knew how to temper what was there. He however is frightened here...and whether that is warranted or not is to be seen. The better context in the episode is when Halloran is invited over for dinner at Hanlon's home off base. Halloran's gets what he is feeling and senses a bit more. Hanlon reflects it in a very interesting observation which was never quite talked about or alluded to before which is mind reading.
Chris Chalk as Halloran is not as ethereal as Scatman Crother's performance in "The Shining" but he knows what is important. That side of the episode reads pretty well, especially with a visual hark back to the movies and a reference of someone close to Dick. The other side of the episode shows the kids that the demon is focused on trying to create a seance in a cemetery. The whole sequence seems a little too on the nose and the requisite haunting element (if you will) is not so scary as it is silly. It feels like something more out of "Casper" but with a little more gore. The former nightmares were specific to character where this seemingly is more for the visual flair (and not because of character). The only point of reverence connects the younger Hanlon to the proceedings but here it is more revealing what the audience is a little more aware of. The story overall is about psychological fear and how Pennywise can use its power without even directly accessing the victims per se. It is simply becomes about the yellow eyes which is more chilling than any of the other images in this episode. While this moves the story along, the crux of the meaning beyond a weapon that can't be tame is still a little vague. B-
By Tim Wassberg
